The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-08-26

VI EuSdT uOlt.
"What does an old buffer like
that want with playing tennis n he
one day grumbles, but Ella flashes
round upon him Indignantly.
Gold Sir Francis il only forty.
two, and men who have served
their country have some right to
show traces of wear and tear6 Aud
Edgar subsidies, snubbed, and is
snpremely wretchrd for the rest of
the day.
Meanwhile | am growing very un-
easy, tor have discovered that our
guests presence is far from being a
source of unmixed pleasure to my
elder sister. She was irritable, de-
pressed, yet nervouSly ANXIOUS to
make his visit pleasant one. Nay,
strange to say, it is she, and not
ms father, who suggests that we
should do our share in entertaining
the neighbOrhoOd generally, aud
exhibiting our lion to the best ad-
vantage.
AT last there comes a morning
hotter than all IFS predecessors,
when even Ella has no energy to
play tennis, ride or go to tho river,
and she and agree to spend our
time quietly i'll hammock We have
privately slung for ourselves in the
branches OF the largest oak tree in
a remote quarter Of the grounds
We have been there about an hour
when we are roused by voices al
most Immediately below our nest.
He who hrSitaies is lest, and
while we are looking at each 9th
er in doubt as to the means of es-
cape the opportunity is gone, and
we are conn rlled 10 become unwill-
ing eavesdroppcrs or to descend
with startling abrnptneSS almost on
the very heads of our eldest sister
and Sir Francis Ferrars.
As Janet stands there, with the
chequered sun rays falling on her
tace and castlug golden light on
her hair, |, for the first time, realize
that there may be some likeness to
Ella. 1t seems as il | had never
observed how delicately beautiful
is the outline Of Janet's face if the
expression were less harassed and
sad.
InvolnntariIy 1 glance at Ella.
She has raised her head aud is gaz-
ing fixedly down. AsI make some
slight movement, she catches my
hand. ave can't" she whispers
almost fiercely, "they done see us
the yew tree is between. We
must see it out now"
"JaDet |" Sir Francis deep tones
are speaking; aud get glimpse
OF his face and read IN it strange
mixture of tenderness and reSolu
ton: "You cannot think that after
ten years of patience | am to be put
Dff like this accepted yopr de
cree of Punishment then. You had
4 right to love your father better
than me, aud perhaps you could
not, as you said, leave him and the
six children so recently m0tilerless.
But now all is changed. Your task
IS molly fulfilled. These very chil-
lren have grown up to take your
place."
Good help me! They have in
lee l." 1t is the sob of broken
leart that interrupts hun aud ere
be can speak again the torrent OF
Dent up suffering breaks forth. "Do
you take me for n fool ? Do you
.hiuk L am ignorant that | have
grown old aud cross and hagg 'rd
n these ten long years OF wear aud
ear. You have kept your youth
lmd the stirring life you had led.
man is often young up to fifty.
But at thirty. two, what am | but a
,ourpd, worn out trudges Ask the
children, or"-with a bitter laugh
-"look at Ella and me, side by
idr. 1 was like hor Once-in the
,ld days when yOu were here"
81 know it.n There is a deep ten
Ter power in his voice, which seems
{ once to sOothe aud master her
/ know it, aud 1t is this that has
lade the child's sweet face and
RAYS so attractive to me-" Invol
Intarily | glance at Ella; there are
ears in her pretty eyes, but she
makes brave effort to keep them
,ack. "But for me there is but one
roman in the world, aud that is the
anet Trevelyan to whom ten years
20, under this very tree, my love
Tas plighted. 1 am changed too,
weetbeart f; the years have not
eaIt with me so gently as you
hink-as these gray hairs testify
ut my heart has never wavered in
5 truth to yOu."
She has turned from him and is
,aning her head against the rough
ark OF the tree. "Frank, Frank,
. not tempt me-" she cries in sti
ed accents; you will repent when
is too late"
But for au answer, he draws her
D him with his irresistible force,
nd for an instant, so transformed,
bat we look at each other in won.
ermeut.
"Was it only happiness that was
-anting !" Ella murmurs, as arm
} arm, every obstacle now swept
way, the lovers pass frOm under
ar tree.
"PoOr Janet; bow selfish We have
cen to have ever thought her cross
r cOldH
And somehow the words comfort
le, for 1 begin to perceive that the